Dr Issah Seidu, a lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST), has been honoured with the 2026 Whitley Award in recognition of his pioneering efforts to conserve endangered guitarfish species along Ghana’s western coastline and promote sustainable marine management.
The award, presented by the UK-based Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN), celebrates outstanding grassroots conservation leaders from the Global South. Dr Seidu was recognised for his innovative work through AquaLife Conservancy, a non-governmental organisation he founded to advance marine conservation and community-led fisheries management in Ghana.
Speaking about his conservation journey, Dr Seidu noted that working with guitarfish has broadened his perspective beyond biology to include governance, social science, and community engagement.
“Guitarfish pushed me beyond biology into social science, governance and community engagement. They are special to me because they sit at the intersection of science, people and conservation, yet they remain largely invisible in policy, research and public awareness,” he said.
Dr Seidu and his team are working to reduce the harvest of guitarfish among the world’s most threatened marine species, through community education, sustainable fishing practices, and alternative livelihood programmes. Their efforts have already led to significant reductions in guitarfish harvesting in several fishing communities within the Ahanta West District of the Western Region.
The project focuses on four species of guitarfish: the common guitarfish, white-spotted guitarfish, blackchin guitarfish, and spineback guitarfish. These species face increasing threats from overfishing driven by international demand for their fins and meat.
With support from the Whitley Award, Dr Seidu and AquaLife Conservancy aim to expand the mapping of critical marine habitats from 15 km² to 25 km² as part of efforts to establish Ghana’s first Locally Managed Marine Area. The initiative also seeks to strengthen partnerships with fishers, fish traders, canoe owners, local authorities, and coastal communities to improve fisheries management and biodiversity conservation.
The conservation programme has already engaged over 200 fishers, trained local volunteers as fisher biologists, and introduced alternative livelihood opportunities such as snail farming and soap production to reduce dependence on unsustainable fishing practices.
Dr Seidu also serves as Co-Chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) SSC Shark Specialist Group for the African region, where he is leading efforts to establish the first baseline data on sharks and rays in Ghana and West Africa.
The 2026 Whitley Awards ceremony took place at the Royal Geographical Society in London, under the patronage of HRH The Princess Royal.
